Co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak excited about Microsoft, sees a new company

Co-found of Apple Steve Wozniak thinks Windows Phone is a convergence of "art and technology"

Speaking at a press conference after his talk at the Entel Summit (Entel is Chile's leading telecommunications operator), co-founder of Apple Steve Wozniak gave his thoughts on Microsoft, Surface and their new Metro UI. Having previously spoken positively of the Lumia 900 and what Microsoft was up to with their refocus on usability and visual appeal, "the Woz" continues to give praise to the company and what appears to be their new direction, noting that he wants a Surface tablet.

During the Q&A session, Wozniak gave his thoughts on how the Lumia line of smartphones and Windows Phone 7 have such a "...strikingly good visual appearance which is a lot of what Steve Jobs always looked for, the art and technology, the convergence of art and technology." Back in April, the technology guru famously heaped praise on the Lumia 900 and Windows Phone and evidently he continues to like it.

Regarding Surface, Wozniak says he wants to "own one, to use one" so he can see for himself how good it is and not have to rely on what he's read—a fair and respectable stance to have on an un-released product.

The video Q&A where Wozniak responds to a Microsoft question during the Entel Summit '12

As far as Microsoft, he had some interesting observations that seem to be aligning with a lot of people's thoughts today on the company: Microsoft has changed and are entering a new era.

"But I'm glad that Microsoft is starting to show maybe they're a different company than before, I don't remember this sort of thing happening in a long, long time with Microsoft, so I'm very happy."

Of course Wozniak has always been quite "technology neutral" and he used whatever device that he thought was the best, without any allegiances. This is why he's respected amongst many as he brings true insight from an engineer's perspective as opposed to a partisan with a product to sell. Either way, it's good press for Microsoft.

Reader comments

Co-founder of Apple, Steve Wozniak excited about Microsoft, sees a new company

No new in windows phone ri8 nw i just hate ri8 nw windows phone...no
new lock pattern, no new apps,, no new updats,, no new screen savers,,
no new unlock clocks,, wat can i do m just bored wid windows phone and
no gamez all gud gamez r paid i have windows ri8 nw:'(:'(:-(:'(

Yeah I have had sales reps tell me how Windows Phone is "crap" even after I made it clear that's what I like and its what I plan I stick with. I walked out of two places. I would come in needing something or another, they see my phone and I say "I really like Windows Phone so please don't try to sell me on something else" and its like they just can't help themselves. The look on their face when i turn around and leave is priceless.

Well the biggest problem for WP comes from the sales people ine the stores.
Whenever i go to the store for service or upgrade i always get some Idoit kid at the counter asking me " why do i use this phone, its crap" and thats where they try to sell me the Android or Iphone.
Most sales people don't offer customers optiond, they only offer the OS they like to the customers. Unti that stops I see hard road for us WP users.

A great big plus 1 I have been preaching this as the # 1 reason the WP7 has had such an uphill battle. You have to insist you "just" want a WINDOWS phone and then realize they know nothing about it and have no interest in being impartial. AT&T has done a MISERABLE job, hell I am still on 7220 because of their hollow attitude of making any updates available. Guess I ought to be gratefull I at least got Mango !!!!

Long story short, got lumia 800, find out not getting Apollo upgrade, a little peeved I go get a HTC one X, use for for 3 days, back to lumia. App selection apart the phone and OS just feel and work alot better. My wife uses iPhone and have to say they are still ahead, just don't like them myself and most iPhone uses I know are ignorant to the fact there's other good phones out there. That said windows phone is pushing and the next generation WP8 will imo put them on top.

MS has created hope for sure. It is an entirely different thing to actually deliver considering how many variables go into product launches. As a webOS die hard and current WP enthusiast I pray MS can deliver where Palm and HP couldn't.

The first step to getting Apple users to listen to you would be to not call someone of the calibur of Tim Cook an idiot. It's akin to calling Ballmer an idiot. Both of these guys know this business like you never will and both deserve a hell of a lot more respect than to be name called by a peon.

First, respect is earned, not deserved. Second, Tim Cook, Ballmer, and any other person of high position are as human as the next person. I have watched those like them lead companies to greatness, but just as quickly drag the company to it's knees. Everyone has a right to speak their opinion of them. "peon" or not.

Woz. Love ya man. I to am seeing the light. Former apple fan boy slowly phasing out apple. Hello mr surface. Welcome to the family, don't worry about the others(MacBook,iPad,iMac) they have been asked to leave

Everyone cheers Woz but I have to wonder why you would shake your head over people "glorifying" Jobs. All of the "founders" of the modern tech era deserve praise, not blasphemous remarks because they don't agree with or can't understand the contributions they gave.

I have to agree with the Woz here. I have to use a product and decide if it's good for me. Many people talk about products like they're movies. Ever read a movie critique? And the person reviewing the movie gives it two thumbs down. Then when you see the movie you're like what the hell movie did they see - that movie was awesome!

It's one thing to say a product crashes, the screen continously flickers, the volume bar doesn't work, the photos are just plain bad (and show examples), etc... mostly what I read is these product reviews are this product doesn't have this or that, compared to some other device. Big deal! Does the phone work? Is it stable? Will it perform the "basic" functions a cell phone should? Does it seem reliable? IMO these are some of the important questions rather than if it has 2 or more cores, etc.

But with my analogy about the movies, everyone taste is different that's why all I need to know does the phone work with the specs it currently has, not the specs we wished or hoped it had.

I agree with you. These guys are missing the point. A company comes up with a new product, they tell you what the product is capable of. In other words, they tell you what the product will offer to customers in exchange for their money. Does the product perform like the manufacturer said it would? Does it exceed expectations? Is it worse than what they say it is? Those are the questions that reviewers should answer first. Comparing the L900 to the HTC One X won't really help anyone but the geeks who are definentely part of the minority when comes to smartphone buyers. A lot of the reviewers (or tech journalists) are very much biased. It's hard to get people who really put a balance in their articles. I guess they have some kind of attachement to some of these products but they really have to knock it off and tell it like it is! Not like they want it to be.

Nevermind that he did have nothing but good things to say about the great stuff we're seeing from Redmond, but hr wouldn't say a negative thing that wasn't necessary! Everyone else just wants to throw stones as if they knew better, but when you are truly wise its sometimes best to be patient...

I'm glad that other companies are starting to see the threat of Microsoft coming back stronger than ever, it's about time. And having a big technological person like Wozniak approve and actually want to own a Microsoft product is a huge compliment. I give props to the big M and hope that they'll keep up the good work

This is great, now we need to have more people change their minds about windows anything, and Microsoft. As soon as I bought my WP. I saw it was different from anything I've seen in a phone before. And I don't regret buying it. Looking forward to WP8.

Well the biggest problem for WP comes from the sales people ine the stores.
Whenever i go to the store for service or upgrade i always get some Idoit kid at the counter asking me " why do i use this phone, its crap" and thats where they try to sell me the Android or Iphone.
Most sales people don't offer customers optiond, they only offer the OS they like to the customers. Unti that stops I see hard road for us WP users.

Not really, consumers see employees as representatives of the place they work at and as such must be knowledgeable of what is sold there. However that's been proven false but consumers don't know better to realize.